GAVAGAI

[Gavagai]

The invasion has begun. I now expect a spear in Hadrumentum thanks to SD somehow spotting my stack one turn in advance. Also, please explain to me why is this city:

The name fits, at least.

[Hitru]

There has been some discussion about that city by lurkers

[Mjmd]

As far as the clock. If he wanted to try war / peacing you he couldn't have double played.

That being said..... SD LOVES the 2nd half of the clock, even if he could have gotten a defenders double move out of not declaring war......... 2nd in turn in nice for the surprise factor especially if there are multiple vectors of attack. I'll tell you for free if I was SD and knew was coming, I would have double played here to get first half. As long as you already know you are going to need to whip and already know the attack vector, I've always liked the 1st half for defense.

[Gavagai]

As long as you already know you are going to need to whip and already know the attack vector, I've always liked the 1st half for defense.

Yes, exactly. And given that under no circumstances I was going to make peace with him in this situation, there was no point in him DOWing other than to claim a time-slot that is not comfortable for anyone.

[Gavagai]

Wow, this is way more units than I expected. I have no idea where the second spear came from (one got whipped out). That one turn of warning played a really big role in this game. Why SD wanted to go back with his scouting axe to where he just came from and spot my stack is beyond me. Prescient.

The situation after the battle. I lost three chariots and one HA and almost all other units are wounded. I think Carthage is for now safe, sadly.

[Gavagai]

I have serious long-term strategic concerns about my situation. The land has almost no rivers and even few grassland flats, very difficult to produce commerce efficiently. I think I must try to go for the Pyramids but highly unsure I'll be able to get them before my rivals.

[Mjmd]

Have to say I've been loving Gavagai reporting. What are the long term war plans vs SD / Ginger / Amica / the world.

Those losses aren't bad considering it was across a river.

[Gavagai]

Have to say I've been loving Gavagai reporting. What are the long term war plans vs SD / Ginger / Amica / the world.

Those losses aren't bad considering it was across a river.

1) About plans - not sure. One obvious move is to go after SD's gold/sheep city. He will probably try to gather all his units in Carthage and that would open up opportunities. And with a gold mine the city should be able to pay for itself. Other than that - my economy is crap and cannot really support conquest that is the problem. I really need to try to get Pyramids before I go any further.
2) I got really lucky with the first combat where my HA killed the first spear at 5 percent odds or something like that.

[Gavagai]

An annoying turn. I actually had to spend 2 HAs on killing this mini-stack - RNG gods get back to me for lucky rolls earlier. Also, Ginger is supplying SD with Horse and SD, as you can observe, has HBR. That would be a hard, hard game...
Offered white peace to SD and offered Commodore to go to war with Ginger (I suspect they border). Do not expect anything to come out of any of it.

[Mjmd]

How's it going? Can you explain thinking behind giving SD back his city?